Newham

Newham's population expanded in the 10 years leading up to 2011. At the same time there were changes in housing tenure, relationships and jobs.

The population passed quarter of a million

Between the last two censuses, the population of Newham increased by 26%, from just under 244,000 to 308,000.

The addition of about 64,000 people means this area's population was the second-fastest-growing in London and was the third fastest-growing across England.

In 2011, Newham was home to, on average, 61 people per football pitch-sized piece of land (about 7,140 square metres).

Population density was higher than the average across London

Population density (usual residents per 7,140 square metres) across London, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

Rise in private renting

This area saw England's largest rise in the proportion of privately rented homes.

During this period, Newham overtook 12 local authority areas, including Wandsworth and Haringey, to become the English local authority area with the fourth-highest percentage of private renting.

In 2011, just over one in three (34%) households in Newham rented privately, compared with 18% in 2001. The percentage of socially rented homes decreased from 36% to 30%.

Tower Hamlets saw the next largest rise (from 16% to 33%).

Private renting in Newham increased by 16 percentage points

Percentage of households in Newham, London and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people living alone

This area saw England's largest fall in the proportion of single-person households.

In 2011, just over one in four (26%) households in Newham had only a single person, compared with 34% in 2001. The percentage with an unmarried couple increased from 5.6% to 5.7%.

Camden saw the next largest fall (from 46% to 41%).

The percentage of households with only a single-person in Newham decreased by 7.9 percentage points

Percentage of households in Newham, London and England that comprised only a single person, March 2001 and March 2011

More students

This area saw England's largest rise in the proportion of students.

During this period, Newham overtook five local authority areas, including Southampton and Manchester, to become the English local authority area with the highest percentage of students.

In 2011, just over 1 in 12 (8.4%) people aged 16 to 74 in Newham said they were in education, compared with 4.3% in 2001. The percentage that were employed decreased from 43% to 42%.

Lincoln saw the next largest rise (from 3.7% to 7.0%).

The percentage of students in Newham increased by 4.1 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Newham, London and England that said they were in education, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in Newham

The number of people in Newham from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups increased from about 53,000 in 2001 to about 60,000 in 2011. However, as a percentage of the total population, this represented a decrease from 22% to 20%.

Across London, the percentage of people from this ethnic group increased by from 11% to 13%, while across England the percentage went from 2.4% to 3.6%.

The number of people in Newham from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from just under 82,000 in 2001 to just over 130,000 in 2011 (from 33% to 43%). The number of residents from the White ethnic groups decreased from just over 96,000 to about 89,000 (from 39% to 29%).

Just under 14,000 people (3.4%) said they were from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed), up from about 8,200 in 2001 (4.5%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the ethnic profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between ethnic groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups in Newham decreased by 2 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, London and Newham by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Newham residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 10% to 5.6% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (83%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 68% in 2001. The percentage of Newham residents that described their health as fair decreased from 22% to 11%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of London (from 8.3% in 2001 to 5.0% in 2011). Across England, the proportion fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Newham decreased by 4.5 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Newham, London and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

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Area report data

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